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Ian,
thanks for the interesting post.
This area contains an 'ancient' river channel, is in a flood plain, and
will go under 7 feet of water given the right conditions. Though we have
been droughty for 4 years now, typically this place has very poor
drainage in the channel proper, and the channel itself grows little but
smartweed, barnyard grass, and now dock. All are grazeable plants, but
given the tiny size of this paddock, and its propensity to be covered
in lesser depths of water for several weeks given adequate rains or a
flood, we just work around it.
Grateful for the reports that dock is not likely to cause off flavors!
Judy
Renaissance Farms Ltd
Bill and Judy Decker
Emporia, KS
http://www.renfarms.com
----- Original Message -----
From: ShortyB
To: graze-l@witt.ac.nz
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 11:08 PM
Subject: RE: [Graze-l] grazing dock
Judy
Docks usually indicate perhaps soil damage, drainage issues,
compaction (all can be caused by pasture damage from animals or excess
vehicle damage in wet weather). These can all cause acidic soil
conditions. Mineral indications would lead to low Ca, P. Perhaps high K.
Using just one species as an indicator of mineral levels is very
haphazard. Other herbs, with similar attributes, being present improves
the "diagnosis". Here on our heavy clay soils (low natural pH, about 5),
I would be looking at liming and what has happened to that particular
field over the last 12 - 18 months. Perhaps sub soiling is called for,
but usually find the problem does resolve itself, with the help of our
little friends underground!!! I usually do not find any detrimental
effects to stock or milk, in fact newly calved cows will seek out dock
(good Fe levels) in the first couple of days after calving.
Ian Buckingham
Maungatawhiri
New Zealand
We have seen a substantial increase in dock in one of our pastures
this spring.
